KENNESAW, Ga. - Wins are not easy to come by in road matches at Kennesaw State, and Sunday the Ospreys (17-3, 6-2 ASUN) were edged in four frames following a marathon, 33-31, fourth set from the KSU Convocation Center October 17.

UNF took the opening session thanks to a scorching offensive performance, although the Owls (11-8, 5-3 ASUN) responded to take the next three frames in a match that saw both teams hit over .300.

North Florida is 17-3 and 6-2 in ASUN play heading into the second half of the conference slate. The Ospreys are set to play each member of the ASUN East Division once more, while also facing Bellarmine, Eastern Kentucky and Lipscomb one time apiece.

KSU 3, UNF 1 (21-25, 25-15, 25-20, 33-31)

Inside the Sets

• Set 1: The Ospreys hit .567, getting a .455 performance from Gabby O'Connell in the opening frame as UNF stormed back from an early deficit to take the opening set … the Ospreys registered 19 total kills, holding the Owls to 14 … UNF trailed early in the session before tying things up for the first time at 10-10 … UNF took a 12-11 lead, its first of the set before never looking back.
• Set 2: The story of the second set was an errorless frame for the Owls as the hosts evened things up.
• Set 3: Set three was a set of runs, with UNF making a 6-1 spurt late to cut into the KSU lead, although Kennesaw State's .335 advantage in hitting percentage was too much to overcome.
• Set 4: A marathon ending to the fourth set saw six Kennesaw State match points and three for the Ospreys … North Florida used a 3-0 lead to create a 12-9 margin … a 7-1 KSU run forced a 23-23 tie before the Owls created their first match point, 24-23 … UNF evaded five final blows before the hosts got the winning tally on a UNF attack error.

Leaders By the Numbers
KSU

• McKinley Ferguson | 48 assists
• Lauren Chastang | 18 kills, .316 hitting percentage, 12 digs
• Shelby Dennis | 3 aces
• Claire Parsons | 6 blocks

UNF

• Rocio Moro | 14 digs
• Annie Antar | 41 assists
• Bre Walp | 13 kills, .545 hitting percentage
• Walp, Boyd, O'Connell | 2 blocks
• O'Connell & Grace Youngblood | 1 ace

Wright's Words
"My thoughts are that it's tough to lose, especially in a match like that when both teams are hitting over .300. I thought the difference in the game was defense. Kennesaw State did a great job defensively and separated our offense. Statistically they contained our outsides a little more than we would have liked, but overall it was an outstanding match by both teams and very competitive, as it should be."

 

.@CoachKWright12 breaks down the numbers from today's match and looks ahead at what's to come this week in ASUN play. #SWOOPLife || #OSPREYWay pic.twitter.com/72JyfaONab

— UNF Volleyball (@OspreyVB) October 17, 2021

Notes

• The 33-31 fourth set was the most combined points in a frame since UNF's 31-29 first-set win against Lipscomb in last year's ASUN Championship Semifinals.
• Walp had a season-high 13 kills, the second-highest mark during her UNF career.
• O'Connell put up an ace, the 100th such stat of her career. She has at least 100 in every major stat category (blocks, kills, aces, assists, digs).
• It was UNF's first road loss in ASUN play.
• It was O'Connell fifth double-digit kill effort of the year and third in four matches.
• Antar set a new career high with 41 assists, surpassing the 40-assist marker for the first time.
• It was UNF's first loss when hitting over .300.
• The Ospreys were held below five blocks for the first time this year.
• North Florida led the Owls in both assists and digs.
• KSU came into the weekend 29th in the nation for aces. The Owls had nine Sunday.

Up Next
UNF returns home for match one of a three-match weekend when it hosts Bellarmine at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22.